'Compound Power Semiconductor' Project Passes Preliminary Feasibility Study... "Reducing Global Technology Gap"

R&D Promotion Worth 138.5 Billion by 2028
Goal to Secure Core Technologies in Semiconductor Value Chain

The government is launching a research and development (R&D) project worth 138.5 billion KRW to become a leading nation in compound power semiconductor technology. It aims to strengthen competitiveness in compound power semiconductors, which are recognized as key components in future advanced industries such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

On the 13th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced at the National R&D Project Evaluation Committee meeting that the "Compound Power Semiconductor Advancement Technology Development Project" has passed the preliminary feasibility study with a total project cost of 138.46 billion KRW (93.88 billion KRW in national funds). This comes about eight months after being selected for the preliminary feasibility study in October last year.

The project, led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, will run for five years from 2024 to 2028. Its goal is to reduce the technological gap with leading countries in the field of compound power semiconductors. The ministry initially requested a budget of 441.9 billion KRW over seven years, but both the duration and scale were reduced during the feasibility study process.

Compound power semiconductors refer to power semiconductors made from compound materials composed of two or more elements. Silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) are representative compound materials. They offer superior power efficiency and durability compared to power semiconductors made from single-element silicon (Si) materials. Power semiconductors are used for power conversion, distribution, and control in various devices.

The compound power semiconductor market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 7% until 2030. Due to the high level of attention, global competition for leadership is intensifying. In South Korea, due to a lack of technological capability and overseas companies holding patents, most of the demand is met through imports. The market share of compound power semiconductors by country is ▲Europe (54%) ▲United States (28%) ▲Japan (13%).

Through this project, the government plans to develop commercialization technologies for devices and power conversion modules linked to domestic demand in electric vehicles, energy, and industry. It will also develop core technologies for driving circuits (power ICs) and compound power semiconductor materials. The goal is to secure key technologies across the entire power semiconductor value chain (materials-devices-ICs-modules).

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated, "We expect this to contribute to promoting the global market entry of domestic companies and strengthening the stability of the domestic supply chain."